Melilla, city (1994 pop. 63,670), Spanish possession, on the Mediterranean coast of Morocco, NW Africa. It is a free port, and the principal industry is fishing. Spain has held the city since 1496 despite many attacks by Moroccans; Morocco continues to object to Spanish control of Melilla. Melilla was one of the sites in Spanish Morocco where the revolt that became (1936) the Spanish civil war broke out. See also Ceuta.

Spanish enclave and autonomous community (pop., 2001: 66,411), North Africa. It covers 5 sq mi (12 sq km) and is a military station and seaport. Located on Morocco's northern coast, it was successively colonized by the Phoenicians, Greeks, and Romans. It fell as a Berber town to Spain in 1497 and remained Spanish despite a long history of attack and siege. In the early 20th century Spain modernized its port and made it an administrative centre for Spanish Morocco. It was the first Spanish town to rise against the Popular Front government in 1936, helping to precipitate the Spanish Civil War. It was retained by Spain when Morocco achieved independence in 1956.

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